Chapter 10: Strength test by hunting

A month had passed since Jin's arrival in this world.

Time flew by in a blur of relentless training. Every day, he honed his martial arts, perfected his swordplay, sharpened his archery skills, and expanded his control over magic. His efforts bore fruit. His movements were now precise, refined—his body stronger, faster. He could sprint like a cheetah, leap and twist mid-air like a monkey, and weave through obstacles with the fluid grace of a snake. His senses had sharpened, and his instincts had grown keener. He was no longer just surviving. He was thriving.

But training within the safety of his clearing only went so far.

Today, it was time to test himself against real opponents.

Jin tightened the straps of his gear. His self-crafted iron sword hung securely at his hip, a makeshift wooden bow slung over his shoulder, and a quiver of arrows with iron-tipped heads rested against his back. His body hummed with energy, anticipation thrumming through his veins. He took a deep breath, steadying himself.

"Let's see just how strong I've become."

With that, he stepped beyond the clearing, venturing into the unknown, where true challenges awaited.

It didn't take long to find his first prey.

Just a few meters from his base, a lone goblin prowled through the underbrush. It was small and hunched, barely reaching his waist, with greenish skin and sharp, beady eyes. Despite its weak-looking frame, Jin knew better than to underestimate it. Goblins were sneaky, and in numbers, they could be deadly.

Raising his bow, he steadied his breath, aligning the tip of his arrow with the goblin's head. A heartbeat passed. Then, with a swift release, the arrow cut through the air. The goblin barely had time to react before it collapsed, the arrow embedded deep in its skull. A notification rang in his mind—

Level Up! Level 4 Achieved.

He exhaled, lowering his bow. That was easier than expected. But a single goblin wouldn't be enough to truly test him.

Pressing forward, he soon stumbled upon a group of four goblins. Their levels ranged from 10 to 13, slightly stronger than the first, but nothing he couldn't handle. He positioned himself, nocking another arrow, and let it fly—one goblin dropped instantly. But the remaining three whirled in his direction, shrieking in rage. Their crude weapons glinted under the sunlight as they charged.

Jin dropped his bow, unsheathing his sword. The first goblin lunged, aiming to slash at his legs. He sidestepped, twisting his body to bring his sword down in a fluid arc—cleanly severing its head. Another goblin thrust a jagged dagger toward his side, but he turned with the attack, his blade flashing as he parried, then countered with a swift stab to its heart. The last goblin hesitated for a split second. Jin wasted no time, dashing forward and slashing through its chest. It gurgled once before crumpling to the ground.

Level Up! Level 5 Achieved.

Jin exhaled; his heartbeat steady despite the adrenaline pumping through him. That had gone smoother than expected. Perhaps he had underestimated just how much he'd grown. A grin tugged at his lips.

Feeling emboldened, he ventured deeper into the forest.

The further he went, the stronger the creatures became.

He soon encountered a pair of kobolds—wolf-like humanoids with lean, muscular frames. Their sharp eyes locked onto him; their snarling faces filled with aggression. Unlike the goblins, they didn't charge recklessly. They moved with coordination, circling him, assessing his movements.

Jin shifted his stance, gripping his sword tightly.

One of them lunged, swiping its clawed hand toward his chest. He barely dodged, feeling the rush of air as its claws grazed past. The second kobold took advantage of the opening, swinging a crude axe at his back. He twisted just in time, raising his sword to block, the force rattling his arm. They were stronger than goblins—faster too.

But Jin wasn't about to lose.

Seizing the moment, he dropped low, sweeping his leg at the first kobold's ankle. It yelped as it tumbled, and in one swift motion, Jin plunged his sword through its throat. The second kobold snarled, leaping back, but Jin was already moving. He dashed forward, deflecting another incoming strike before driving his blade deep into its chest. It let out a strangled cry before falling limp.

Level Up! Level 7 Achieved.

Jin panted, wiping sweat from his brow. That had been a close one. He glanced at the felled creatures, then at the dense forest ahead. The pattern was clear—the further he strayed from his base, the stronger the monsters became.

He had stepped into a world where the weak were prey and only the strong survived.

And he would make sure he belonged to the latter.

Memorizing the sensation and the feeling of growth, he made his way back to his base, a newfound determination settling within him.

Hunting and leveling up—

That would be part of his routine from now on. After all, this was training too.